After a successful world premiere as a digital production at The Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia in 2021, Fat Ham by James Ijames won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, then made its New York premiere at The Public Theatre where it was sold-out and its run extended for an additional six weeks. It opened on April 12, 2023 at The American Airlines Theatre on Broadway in a limited run that closes on June 25, 2023. It will be seen on stage during The Wilma Theatre's 2023-2024 season.
Directed by Saheem Ali, Fat Ham reinvents Shakespeare's masterpiece, Hamlet, creating what The New York Times calls “a hilarious yet profound tragedy smothered in comedy.” The creative team includes lighting designer Bradley King, scenic designer Maruti Evans, costume designer Dominique Fawn Hill, and sound designer Mikaal Sulaiman, with illusions by Skylar Fox.
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The lighting team includes associate LD Aja Jackson, lighting DMC Deanna Antoine, programmer Bridget Chervenka, and production electrician Kevin Barry.
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"Fat Ham is a deceptively simple play: it's a naturalistic/realistic rendering of a backyard cookout, but there are moments of magic, illusion, and music performance that makes it very musical-like. I knew I needed an incredibly flexible plot that could support each of these moments with color, movement, and very specific direction of focus, which means pretty much every unit over-stage moves," says King.
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"The bulk of the natural light comes from FOH Luster 2s and Encore Warm Washes, which give a brilliant rich sunshine," King adds. "The Encore Spots do double duty as both texture and specials (I find the Encore colds handle a better range of colors than the warms), and the X5s (which have fantastic color rendering) act as low units on the booms and boxes to sculpt figures. We have a smashing finale that I don't want to spoil, but let's say it's a true all hands on deck moment for every fixture!"
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Selected lighting gear:
Gear provided by Christie Lites
Fixtures:
36 Martin Mac Encore Performance COLD
24 Martin Mac Encore Wash WARM
16 GLP Impression X%
13 GLP Impression X4 Bar 20
40 ETC Lustr Series 2
20 Chroma Q Colorforce 2 72
6 Elation Paladin Panel RGBW w/ barndoor
12 Chroma Q Colorforce 2 12 w/ hexcel louvre
6 LED DMX ellipsoidal (for worklight)
6 LED DMX PAR (for worklight)
Set Electrics:
92 Martin VDO Sceptron
6 Martin DMX Powerport 375 for DMX control
2 Martin P3 050
2 PowerPort 1500
Haze:
2 MDG ATMe Hazer w/ hanging trays
2 Martin Jem Fan vV2
Power/Dimming:
4 96-way 208V 6cir Veam PD w/ L21-30
6 cir Veam PD
1 ETC Sensor Dimmer rack w/ R20, CC20 D20 modules as per PE
6 DFD 6x 120vx2 Rac
Wireless:
2 City Theatrical Wireless Multiverse 5910 Transmitter
4 City Theatrical Multiverse 5902 Node
Control:
1 ETC EOS The 2nd generation 24K